Former Gov. Jim Edgar remains an advocate of state Sen. Kirk Dillard, R-Hinsdale, for governor, but he has high praise for Gov. Pat Quinn's choice of former Chicago Public Schools CEO Paul Vallas as a running mate.

Former Gov. JIM EDGAR remains an advocate of state Sen. KIRK DILLARD, R-Hinsdale, for governor, but he has high praise for Gov. PAT QUINN’s choice of former Chicago Public Schools CEO PAUL VALLAS as a running mate.

Lieutenant governor, Edgar said, can be a frustrating job.

"But I think that politically, as far as the pick, I think it was a brilliant move on the part of Quinn,” Edgar told me following his talk this week to the Springfield Noon Lions Club at American Harvest Eatery. “And I haven’t said that very often about Quinn’s moves.”

“I’ll put on my academic hat,” said Edgar, now a Springfield resident who remains a distinguished fellow at the University of Illinois’ Institute of Government and Public Affairs. “I thought it was a very good choice on the part of Quinn. I think Vallas brings him credibility. He’s known. … I think most people felt he did a good job on the Chicago schools.”

A good pick, Edgar noted, doesn’t mean two people will work together well. So how that relationship works out remains to be seen.

He added he was surprised that Vallas would take the plunge. Edgar has heard talk, as have many, that if Vallas and Quinn somehow switched positions, “it would be a really good ticket.”

“The key to lieutenant governor is you’ve got to have a governor who’s willing to give you a lot of responsibility, and that means you’ve got to delegate,” Edgar said, adding that he’s not sure about Quinn’s inclination to do so.

On issues of national interest, Edgar said he thinks Republicans were hurt by the partial shutdown of the federal government, but Democrats have been hurt by the “atrocious” rollout of the Affordable Care Act.

Had Republicans in Washington merely let the health-care law take effect, he said, “they’d be so far ahead right now” because all the focus would be on problems with that law.

“I was dumbfounded watching their strategy,” he said. “I don’t know why they let a few screwy guys control the whole thing.” He mentioned that some were freshmen, and agreed that he was including U.S. Sen. TED CRUZ, R-Texas.

“I hope Obamacare works, ’cause it’s the law,” Edgar added. “It would be nice if we could move on and worry about some other things in the world.”

In his speech at the Lions Club lunch, Edgar said keys to effective governing are compromise, civility and compassion.

Edgar, meanwhile, was one of the more than 300 people who wrote letters last year praising Springfield developer BILL CELLINI’s character and generosity. Those letters were used by defense lawyers to argue that Cellini get probation instead of prison time. Cellini ended up being sentenced to a year and a day for a corruption conviction. He began that sentence Jan. 22 at the federal prison in Terre Haute, Ind., and was released to home confinement Oct. 31. With his credit for good conduct, that confinement is scheduled to end Dec. 5.

Page 2 of 3 - Some outside-the-home activities are allowed under home confinement, and Edgar said he ran into Cellini at a Springfield restaurant on Friday.

“He seemed fine,” Edgar said. The former governor said he sent Cellini some history books during the prison stay.

“He said he read a lot,” Edgar said. “He looked good.”

Conservatives for Dillard

Particularly since Dillard spoke at a Statehouse rally in opposition to same-sex marriage before the House vote that sent the measure to the governor, some observers have sensed that Dillard is stressing conservative credentials in his quest for the GOP nomination.

“I’ve said on social issues Kirk is far more conservative than I am,” Edgar said in another recent interview. “But as I’ve often said, the key thing is fiscal issues. … I would not encourage him to go any farther right. I still think, and even in a Republican primary in Illinois, you want folks in the middle, too.”

“I don’t expect to agree with the candidate I support 100 percent, “Edgar added. “I still think he is the best prepared to be governor.”

Dillard’s campaign just Wednesday issued a news release announcing support from several conservative leaders. They include PHYLLIS SCHLAFLY, president and founder of Eagle Forum; former state Rep. PENNY PULLEN of Arlington Heights, president of Eagle Forum of Illinois; the Rev. BOB VANDEN BOSCH of Lake Zurich, director of Concerned Christian Americans; LIZ EILERS, a member of the board of directors of Springfield Right to Life; and SANDY RIOS, a conservative radio host.

An open letter from the group of endorsers states that among the four GOP candidates for governor, “All but Dillard have failed in their duty to lead on issues like life, marriage and lower taxes.” The word “lead” is boldfaced in the letter.

“This speaks to the solid track record of both Senator Dillard and Representative Tracy and their commitment to protecting our conservative values,” said GLENN HODAS of Springfield, campaign manager for the team of Dillard and his running mate, state Rep. JIL TRACY, R-Quincy.

SMTD appointments

Sangamon County Board Chairman ANDY VAN METER has recommended former GOP county board member SUE DAVSKO and SANDRA DOUGLAS, who ran for Springfield Park Board last spring, to open seats on the Springfield Mass Transit District board. The county board is expected to act on those recommendations at a Dec. 12 meeting.

The transit board seats pay $400 per month. Davsko, who recently left the county board because she moved out of her district, is being named to a term expiring in November 2019. Douglas, sister of Springfield Ward 3 Ald. DORIS TURNER, would fill an unexpired term that will end in February 2015. Doris Turner also chairs the Sangamon County Democratic Party.

The vacancies are left by FRANK SQUIRES, who moved into the post of SMTD executive director last year, and CHRISTINE GROVES, who recently stepped down from the board.